Plans are in place to continue offering students the high level of support the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services office has become known for, following the recent retirement of two long-time employees.
Mike Gaul has served as director of CALS Career Services since 1998, and Lois Benning joined as the career services coordinator in 2001. Gaul retired on June 12, and Benning retired on June 2.
“For thousands of Iowa State University students, Mike Gaul has been instrumental in preparing them for successful careers,” said Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, who served as CALS dean from 2006-2017. “He knew each student as an individual and did his very best to make sure the hard work they invested in their Iowa State education positioned them well for a lifelong return on investment in the workforce. Thanks to Mike, it’s no wonder that employers have made the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ career fair the nation’s largest.”
Christen Burgett, associate teaching professor of animal science, has been selected to serve as the CALS Career Services interim director, effective immediately, under the direction of CALS Associate Dean for Academic Innovation Carmen Bain. With assistance from Carah Mabry, program specialist with CALS administration, and Paige Zhorne, student services coordinator in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, Burgett will organize the fall 2025 semester’s CALS Career Day. The office will also:
- give in-class presentations about services offered
- review student resumes
- help students prepare for interviews
- present a Freshman Resume Workshop
- provide job search assistance and job offer analysis
- offer career counseling
Burgett holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in animal sciences from North Dakota State University. She joined Iowa State’s Department of Animal Science in August 2012, where she teaches several courses for undergraduate students, including career preparation and advanced career preparation in animal science, and serves as an academic advisor. She also serves as the advisor for the ISU Dairy Science Club and is the head coach of the ISU Dairy Judging Team.
Her efforts to guide students along their academic journeys have been recognized through the CALS Early Advisor Award, the CALS Outstanding Service in Student Recruitment and Retention Award and the Outstanding Young Teacher Award from the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association.
“I am truly appreciative of the opportunity to serve as the CALS Career Services interim director,” Burgett said. “I’m committed to building on the strong foundation of this office by continuing to foster impactful relationships with students, faculty, staff, alums and stakeholders. I look forward to leading efforts that ensure the continued success and growth of CALS Career Day, maintaining its status as a premier event for building meaningful student-employer partnerships.”
CALS Career Day, one of the largest career fairs of its kind in the country, will take place Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center on Iowa State’s campus. More information about the event, which attracts more than 280 employers annually, will be made available as the event gets closer. Companies or organizations interested in attending CALS Career Day should email the CALS Career Services office at calscs@iastate.edu.
“We are very appreciative of Christen Burgett, Carah Mabry and Paige Zhorne for stepping up during this interim period to continue supporting CALS students seeking internship and job opportunities and to coordinate this fall’s annual CALS Career Day. They are outstanding people to work with Associate Dean Bain to carry this work forward,” said Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair of CALS. “Mike and Lois served our CALS students in so many extraordinary ways over the years. The strong connections they made and sustained with agriculture and life sciences companies and alums significantly benefited our students. We are forever grateful for their service and commitment to our college and wish them all the best in retirement.”
